TL;DR: Federal janitorial contracts are among the most accessible government opportunities for small businesses. The SBA size standard for NAICS 561720 is $22 million — meaning most cleaning companies qualify as "small." Contracts range from $40,000 single-building jobs to multi-million-dollar base operations. Browse open cleaning tenders to see current opportunities.

Why Cleaning Companies Should Bid on Government Work

Government buildings need cleaning. Every federal courthouse, military base, VA hospital, post office, and national park facility requires custodial services — and the government contracts most of it out to private companies.

For cleaning businesses, government work offers three things the private sector often doesn't: guaranteed payment (the government doesn't go bankrupt), multi-year contracts (typically 1 base year + 4 option years), and predictable scope. A single building contract can generate steady revenue for five years.

The barrier to entry is low compared to other government work. You don't need security clearances for most janitorial contracts. You don't need expensive equipment. You need reliable crews, proper insurance, and the ability to follow a detailed scope of work.

NAICS Codes for Cleaning Businesses

Every US federal contract is assigned a NAICS code. To bid on janitorial work, you need the right codes on your SAM.gov registration.

NAICS Code	Description	SBA Size Standard
561720	Janitorial Services	$22 million
561210	Facilities Support Services	$47 million
561740	Carpet and Upholstery Cleaning	$7.5 million
561790	Other Services to Buildings and Dwellings	$19 million

NAICS 561720 is your primary code. It covers general custodial services: floor cleaning, trash removal, restroom sanitation, dusting, window cleaning (interior), and building interior maintenance.

NAICS 561210 covers bundled contracts where janitorial is combined with other facility services — grounds maintenance, minor repairs, mail handling, security. These tend to be larger contracts requiring broader capabilities.

The corresponding federal Product Service Code (PSC) is S201 (Housekeeping — Custodial Janitorial). When searching SAM.gov or GovBid, filtering by either the NAICS code or PSC will surface relevant opportunities.

For help selecting your codes, read our NAICS codes guide.

Who Buys Cleaning Services

The biggest buyers of janitorial services in the federal government:

Agency	What They Buy
GSA (General Services Administration)	Custodial services for 8,600+ federally owned and leased buildings nationwide. GSA is the single largest buyer of janitorial services in the government.
Department of Defense	Cleaning for military installations, base housing, administrative buildings, hangars, and training facilities. Contracts issued through individual base contracting offices.
Department of Veterans Affairs	Hospital-grade cleaning for 1,300+ VA health facilities. Strict infection control standards. Higher-paying but more demanding.
Department of Homeland Security	TSA facilities, CBP buildings, Coast Guard stations, FEMA offices.
US Courts	Federal courthouses and probation offices across all 94 judicial districts.
USDA	Forest Service ranger stations, research labs, administrative offices.

Key fact: Before competing for a janitorial contract, agencies must check the AbilityOne Procurement List. Many custodial services at federal facilities are designated as mandatory sources for AbilityOne-participating nonprofits. If a building's custodial work is on the list, it won't be competitively bid. Check this before spending time on a proposal.

What Government Cleaning Contracts Pay

Federal janitorial contracts follow predictable patterns:

Single-building contracts: $40,000 - $150,000 per year. A standard office building with daily cleaning, trash removal, and restroom service. These are the most common and the best entry point.

Multi-building or campus contracts: $150,000 - $500,000 per year. Military installations, hospital complexes, or government campuses with multiple buildings under one contract.

Large facility management contracts: $500,000 - $5 million+ per year. Major VA hospitals, large military bases, or bundled services (561210) where janitorial is combined with grounds maintenance and minor repairs.

Most contracts are structured as firm-fixed-price with a 1-year base period and 4 option years. That means a $100,000/year contract is worth $500,000 over its full life — if you perform well and the government exercises the options.

Requirements and Qualifications

Insurance

Federal janitorial contracts require, at minimum:

Coverage	Typical Minimum
Commercial General Liability	$500,000 per occurrence
Workers' Compensation	Per state statute
Employer's Liability	$100,000
Automobile Liability	$200,000 per person

Individual contracts may require higher limits. Get a quote from your insurance broker before you bid — factor the premium into your pricing.

Bonding

Unlike construction contracts, janitorial service contracts generally do not require performance or payment bonds under the Miller Act (which applies to construction over $150,000). However, some agencies require a fidelity bond — essentially a guarantee that your employees won't steal from the facility. Typical fidelity bond coverage: $10,000 - $50,000.

Background Checks

Most government cleaning contracts require background checks for all employees who will access the facility. Some require government-sponsored security investigations, especially for DoD installations and courthouses. Factor this time and cost into your proposal timeline.

Service Contract Act

Federal janitorial contracts are subject to the Service Contract Act (SCA), which requires you to pay employees the prevailing wage rate for their classification in that geographic area. The Department of Labor publishes wage determinations for each contract — you'll find them attached to the solicitation.

This is critical for pricing. You can't pay minimum wage on a government janitorial contract. The SCA wage for a janitor might be $15-$22/hour depending on the metro area, plus required health and welfare benefits of approximately $4.80/hour. Price your bid accordingly.

How to Find Janitorial Contracts

SAM.gov: Search by NAICS code 561720 or PSC code S201. Filter by set-aside type if you qualify for small business, SDVOSB, WOSB, or HUBZone programs.

GovBid: Browse US tenders — the AI classifier tags janitorial contracts automatically, even when they use different terminology (custodial services, housekeeping, building maintenance).

GSA eBuy: For janitorial services purchased through GSA Schedules, check eBuy for RFQs (Requests for Quotation) posted to schedule holders.

Tips for Winning Janitorial Bids

Start with single-building contracts under $150,000. These use simplified acquisition procedures — shorter proposals, faster evaluations, and fewer competitors.
Visit the site. Many janitorial RFPs include a site visit (sometimes mandatory). Walk the building, note the square footage, count the restrooms, assess the floor types. Your pricing accuracy depends on it.
Price the SCA wages correctly. The most common mistake in janitorial bids is underestimating labor costs. Pull the wage determination from the solicitation, add the health and welfare benefit, factor in payroll taxes, and build your price from there.
Emphasize quality control systems. Government evaluators want to see your inspection process. Daily checklists, supervisor spot-checks, customer satisfaction surveys — document your QC system in the proposal.
Get your small business certifications. Janitorial contracts are frequently set aside for small businesses, WOSBs, SDVOSBs, and 8(a) firms. If you qualify, get certified — it dramatically reduces your competition.
Build a past performance portfolio. Track every commercial and government cleaning contract you've completed. Collect reference letters. Government evaluators will contact your references — make sure they'll say good things.

Common Mistakes

Ignoring the Service Contract Act. Pricing below the SCA wage determination is a compliance violation, not a competitive advantage. Your contract can be terminated.
Not checking AbilityOne. If the building is on the AbilityOne Procurement List, the opportunity isn't open to competitive bidding. Verify before investing in a proposal.
Underestimating startup costs. The first month of a new government cleaning contract requires equipment purchases, employee onboarding, background checks, and training — all before your first invoice gets paid.
Bidding without a site visit. Floor plans and specifications only tell you so much. In-person walkthroughs reveal conditions that affect your cleaning time and supply costs.

The Bottom Line

Government janitorial contracts are a reliable revenue stream for cleaning companies of almost any size. The SBA size standard of $22 million means most cleaning businesses qualify as small. The work is recurring, payment is guaranteed, and multi-year contracts provide stability that commercial clients rarely offer.

Browse current cleaning tenders to see what agencies are buying right now, or set up free alerts to get janitorial contracts matched to your business daily.

Government Contracts for Cleaning Companies: How to Win Janitorial RFPs